WEA Religious Liberty Prayer News: Libya, Tanzania, India

May 1, 2015

WEA Religious Liberty Prayer News

29 April 2015

RLPN: 2015/02

“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you"

Matthew 5:44

Dear Friends in Christ,

The World Evangelical Alliance is a global ministry working with local churches around the world to join in common concern to live and proclaim the Good News of Jesus in their communities. God is glorified and the nations of the earth are forever transformed.

The purpose of the WEA Religious Liberty Prayer Release is to keep you informed and mobilized in prayer and intercession for the needs of justice and religious liberty in the Church around the globe, so that we can stand together for the work of the Kingdom and the healing of the Nations. The Prayer Release is comprised on the basis of different credible resources.

Video depicts the killing of Ethiopian Christians by Islamic State militants in LIBYA

20 April, Islamic State (IS) has released a video allegedly purporting the killing of dozens Ethiopian Christians in Libya.

The video, released on 19 April shows the execution of around 30 Christians by beheading and shooting.

The recent footage follows the video released by IS in February that showed the beheading of 21 Egyptian Christians in Libya.

Prayer points:

Pray for Jesus’ comforting presence over families grieving the loss of loved ones;

Pray for God’s protection over all Christians in Libya, Iraq and Syria;

8 April, According to reports, Hindu extremists attacked an Easter Sunday service and hoisted saffron flags inside a church premises in Telangana, Mahbubnagar, India. It is reported that the pastor was harassed in the incident and forced to meet Hindu leaders at the local temple.

On way to the temple, the extremists, slapped, kicked and hurled verbal abuse at the pastor. At the temple the extremists continued to intimidate, mock and verbally abuse the pastor.

The pastor was later rescued by the police who arrived at the temple and allowed the pastor to return back to his church to resume the Sunday service.

Prayer points:

Pray for God’s protection over all Christians in Telangana, India;

Pray for wisdom and guidance upon Christian leaders who serve in hostile areas across India;

Pray for those perpetrating violence against Christians, that they would repent and come to know Christ.

Source: EFI News

Government threatens to close down churches that oppose new constitution in TANZANIA

21 April, It is reported that the Tanzanian Minister of Home Affairs has threatened that churches and other religious organizations that publicly oppose the country’s new constitution will be deregistered beginning 20 April.

According to reports, the minister stated that it was illegal for leaders of religious institutions to use their positions to influence their members to oppose the new constitution.

Tanzania’s Christians have expressed their displeasure over the proposed bill in the new constitution that will establish Islamic courts across the country’s mainland.

Prayer points:

Pray that God would help Tanzanian Christian leaders to respond wisely;

Pray that Tanzanian’s state officials would not introduce unjust legislation;

Pray that people of Tanzania would vote wisely to ensure the country adopts a democratic constitution.

The purpose of the WEA Religious Liberty Commission is to promote freedom of religion for all people worldwide as defined by Article 18 of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights, and in accordance with Scripture. Our aim is to help all people, but especially Protestant Christians, to exercise their faith without oppression or discrimination.